Here's What 2024 UW Starting Lineup Might Look Like
One of the things University of Washington football players appreciate about Kalen DeBoer's coaching approach is they always know where they stand in the competition.
The video doesn't lie. The fitness demands are carefully spelled out. The coaches don't sugarcoat anything. They do their best to keep the communication going with a player no matter where he sits on the depth chart.
For that reason, Dylan Morris was on a flight this week to West Virginia for a tour of a Marshall program badly in need of a starting quarterback.
Rather than wait around for the 2024 Husky position battle to unfold, Morris likely knew Mississippi State's record-setting signal-caller Will Rogers was taking a Friday recruiting visit only as a formality, that he was a sure thing to sign on with the Huskies and would be tough to dislodge.
Grubb shared how he texted Morris while the UW back-up quarterback flew across the country. He'd pressed him to go take a look at Marshall and other places so Morris wouldn't be left holding the bag on playing time for a third consecutive season.
While plenty of new faces from the transfer portal can still be added to the Husky roster between now and the next couple of weeks, we wondered what a UW starting lineup might look like right now. We'll presume certain players might delay their NFL ambitions. We will present a new lineup several times before next season begins.
HUSKY OFFENSE 2024
LT — Roger Rosengarten. Here's thinking the two-year starter and All-Pac-12 honorable-mention selection will come back as a fifth-year junior and make himself a high-round draft pick much like Troy Fautanu did.
LG — Nate Kalepo. The 6-foot-6, 327-pound Kalepo has started 16 games for DeBoer's staff over two seasons, at both guard spots. He'll be a sixth-year senior
C — Parker Brailsford. He didn't play as a freshman, but started all 13 games so far this season, two at guard, and became a second-team All-Pac-12 selection. That's called development.
RG — Landen Hatchett. Similar to Brailsford, he's another young star in the making. Unlike Brailsford, this 6-foot-2, 310-pound Hatchett showed up physically ready to go and played in nine games as a freshman.
RT — Julius Buelow. He's started seven games at both guard spots this season, and five games at guard in 2021, but he carries a 6-foot-9, 313-pound frame that screams tackle. He'll be a sixth-year senior. Kansas State transfer Jalen Klemm could factor in here, as well.
TE — Josh Cuevas. Playing behind Devin Culp and Jack Westover, Cuevas still managed to appear in all 13 games so far and catch a couple of touchdown passes. Quentin Moore likewise is a strong candidate.
QB — Will Rogers. Given Michael Penix Jr.'s UW success, let alone former teammate Dillon Johnson's career boost in Seattle, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound fifth-year player will come in with an opportunity to excel that a dozen other QBs in the transfer portal would have jumped at.
RB — Cam Davis. After a tearing up a knee in fall camp and missing the season, Davis reappeared on the Husky sideline, without crutches or a brace, for the Apple Cup and Pac-12 title game. He's tough enough to be ready for next season. Davis will be a sixth-year senior. If Tybo Rogers could ever solve his ongoing issues, he could take over this job, but it hasn't happened yet.
WR — Jalen McMillan. This might be a long shot, but McMillan saw what a highly productive season with minimal injuries did for Rome Odunze, and he might want to make himself a first-round draft pick. After a knee injury cost him two months of production, he's not a No. 1 right now.
WR — Germie Bernard. McMillan and Odunze didn't put up big numbers until their third seasons of college football. Bernard has 31 catches and 4 touchdowns receiving and rushing so far. He'll be entering his third season in 2024.
WR — Denzel Boston. He has 5 catches this season and a world of talent, but nothing will be handed to him, not with Giles Jackson pining for a lot of playing time, a host of young receivers coming up and maybe another portal add.
UW DEFENSE 2024
ER — Zach Durfee. This guy is almost mythical now, waiting to play and show what he has after being in NCAA exile, but DeBoer called him "a big guy who can run" and there's no substitute for that on the edge. While Durfee has watched, freshman Jacob Lane made a move and got on the field for seven games.
DT — Faatui Tuitele. The Huskies are overdue for another disruptive player on the order of Vita Vea or Greg Gaines, but the 6-foot-3, 317-pound Hawaiian has 22 starts, including all 13 games in 2022 before his body got nicked up, and is an experienced defender. He'll be a sixth-year senior.
DT — Jayvon Parker. Entering his third UW season, this Parker twin should have an opportunity to put his quickness to use and play a greater role. He's already appeared in 20 games. Jacob Bandes, if he returns, might press for the job, too.
ER — Voi Tunuufi. Yes, he's just 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds, but he has an amazing ability to get in the backfield and pile up sacks, 10 in his career. He sacked former Heisman winner Caleb Williams this season and current Heisman recipient Jayden Daniels in 2021. Redshirt freshman Lance Holtzclaw appeared in 10 games, got his first career sack and is getting closer to extended minutes.
LB — Alphonzo Tuputala. Of course, he should have scored on his 77- turned into 76-yard interception return. DeBoer's staff otherwise trusts him, starting Tuputala in all 25 games he's played over the past two seasons, with one injury miss. He'll be a sixth-year senior. Freshman Deven Bryant brings great speed to the second row and and will be a factor, too.
LB — Carson Bruener. It will be hard to make Bruener come off the bench in 2024. He started one game this season, had back to back 14-tackle performances and was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention. Vanderbilt transfer Ethan Barr is a 39-game starter reportedly headed for the UW and will push both Bruener and Tuputala for snaps.
CB — Elijah Jackson. He's been picked on a lot, but he's started all 13 games and become a seasoned player with 52 tackles, 5 pass break-ups, 2 forced fumbles and a blocked kick.
CB — Davon Banks. He was on the verge of having a big season, coming up with 4 pass break-ups in the Boise State opener, but he was lost for the year in game two. If he's not ready, look for Thaddeus Dixon, who started against USC, to take the job. Freshman Leroy Bryant played on special teams and could be ready to challenge the older guys at corner.
S — Makell Esteen. He made big strides as a safety, earning the trust of the coaching staff to start a pair of games. He had a big interception in the Apple Cup, giving him 3 in his career. Providing Asa Turner doesn't play a sixth season, this job will become Esteen's.
S — Kamren Fabiculanan. When he was healthy this season, he was very good, intercepting passes in each of the first two games and playing solidly in the Pac-12 title game against Oregon. Yet he got hurt twice. He'll be a sixth-year senior. Freshman Vincent Holmes likewise played on special teams and could enter the mix at safety.
NB — Mishael Powell. He had a breakout season at nickelback for the Huskies, starting all 13 games, including one at safety, and shares the team interception lead with 3, including his 89-yard pick-6 to beat Arizona State. He'll be a sixth-year senior, too.
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